Fender for automobiles.



No. 643,370. Patented Feb. l3, I900. C. E. BELCHER.

FENDER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-She! l.

| n'ul 0 llllfllllllillllllllllll No. 643,370. Patented Feb. I3, 1900.

C. E. BELCHER.

FENDER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I m llllllllll'liilll H nw i L i'rn' STATES FATENT Orrrcn.

OASSIUS E. BELOHER, OF LINDEN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. HENRY BOWER, OF JERSEYSHORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENDER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 643,370, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed September 13, 1899. Serial No. 730,352. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may conceive.-

Be it known that I, OAssIUs E. BELOHER, a citizen of the United States, residing atLinden, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fender for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fenders and windguards, and has for its object to equip automobiles or horseless vehicles which arenot confined to tracks, but travel at large, with fenders embracing the transversely opposite wheels thereof, protecting the same against collisions and interlocking with the wheels of other vehicles. It is designed to provide fenders for the rear as well as the front wheels of the automobile, if so desired, and said fenders are also designed to protect the propelling mechanism of the vehicle in the event of a collision with another vehicle or with any object.

Afurther object resides in providing the fender with a wind-guard to shield the occupants of the vehicle against the wind or current of air caused by the rapid movement of the Vehicle and also to plow into or separate the air, so as to reduce the friction against the air, and therebyincrease the speed of the automobile.

To these ends the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, shown in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details of construction and arrangement may be made within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front portion of an automobile equipped with one of the forms of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a modified form of the invention connected to the axle of an automobile. Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof, the body of the vehicle being removed to more clearly show the connectionof the fender with the axle. Fig. at is an elevation of a skeleton form of the device applied to a dilferent style of re hicle and mounted entirely independent of the axle. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the front portion of an automobile and showing a wind-guard provided upon the fender.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

In carrying out the present invention it i will be understood that the fender is to be Also as the thereto. This form of theinvention comprises a convex imperforate body 3, which extends in advance of the front wheels 4 and embraces the latter. The upper end of 'the fender projects above the tops of the wheels and is provided at its top with a suitable hook 5, which is detachably engaged with an eye 6, provided upon the front of the dashboard. The opposite sides of the fender are disposed outward from the adjacent wheels, so as not to interfere therewith and permit of the axle being turned laterally within the fender. Extending rearwardly from each side and intermediate of the upper and lower edges thereof is one or more arms 7, which extend beyond the rear sides of the adjacent wheel and are pro- 9o vided with hooks 8 for detachable engagement with suitable eyes 9, provided upon the side of the vehicle-body and in rear of the wheel. Thus it will be seen that the fender is detachably connected to the vehicle and embraces the wheels, so as to prevent injury thereto in the event of a collision and also to. protect the propelling mechanism. From the foregoing description it will be understood that the fender is connected to the body only I00 of the vehicle and is independent of the axle and wheels, so that the latter may be turned laterally in guiding the vehicle without engagement with the fender.

In some instances it may be found convenient to mount the fender upon the axle of the vehicle, so that the fender may turn laterally with the axle, and such an arrangement has been illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The body 10 of the fender is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1 and embraces thewheels 11 in like manner. However, instead of suspending the fender from the upper end thereof it has its opposite sides connected to the adjacent extremities of the axle 12 outside of the hubs of the wheels and held in place by means of nuts or other suitable fastenings 13.

downwardly toward the axle and have their rear-endsconnected by means of ayokeshapedguide 17. This guide may be integral withthe braces or separate therefrom'and hasits rounded or arched portion located above and in rear of the axle. A suitable clamp 19 is fitted to the reach-bar 18 of theautoniobile and is provided with a stirrup 20, through which the rounded portion of the yoke-shaped guide 17 loosely passes. It will be noted that the yoke-shaped guide forms an arc of a circle struck from the pivotal point A ofthe axle asa center, so that said guide may work freely through the stirrup; Another brace-rod 16 extends from a point midway between the ends of the axle to the lower edge of the fender and secured thereto in the same manneras the braces 14. Thus'it will be seen that the fender is firmly connected to the axle, and

the upper end thereof is braced by means of a movable brace, which permits of the fender moving laterally with the axle.

To accommodate my fender to the cab type of automobile, in which the front wheels 21 are located below the elevated platform 22, upon which the operators seat is located, I provide a skeleton frame of substantially bell shape, comprising radial bars 23' and marginalrods 24, connecting the lower ends of' the radial bars and completing the frame; At

the upper end and intermediate ofthe opposite sides of the frame there is provided an eye 25, which is loosely engaged with a hook 26, pendent from the under side ofthe platform 22, whereby the fender is suspended from thevehicle and embraces the wheels-21.

The rear ends of the opposite" sides of the" fender extend well in rear of-the'wheels, and each rear end is suspended from thebody of the vehicle by means of a rod or link 28, which By this arrangement it will be seen that the fender is adapted to turn laterally with frame of the fender is large enough to permit of the lateral turning of the axle within the frame, and the latter is loosely swung from the vehicle, so as to permit of a limited movement of the fender, thereby preventing the latter from being injured by light blows.

The rapid movement of an automobile causes a wind or'draft of air, which is very disagreeable, especially in cold weather, and to protect the occupants of the vehicle against such a draft of air I have provided a windguard, as illustrated in Fig.5. In thisform of the device the fender 31 is preferably 'of skeletonjform, as shown in Fig. 4, and'is mounted "as'desc'ribed for the forms shown 1n either of Figs; 1 or2. The guard 32 is imperforate,extends the entire width of the ve:

hiele, and projects above the'dashboardand the'heads of the occupants of the'vehicl'e,so,

as to shield said occupants from the wind. A 1

suitable glass-covered opening 33 is provided near the upper end of the guard, so as to'permi-t of the occupants looking ahead without being exposed tothe'wind. This guard may i be a continuation of the fender or separate; therefrom, as desired. Ifsep'arate, it should rest "upontheupper edge of the fenuer,'so'as to be firmly'supported in position. case the upper'poirtion of the guard is braced In either by a suitable brace-rod 34, which extends from the'rear side of the guard to the {upper end of the dashboard 35 of the vehicle.

Havingthus described the invention, -what is claimed, an'ddesired to be secured by Let ters Patent, is- I I 1. The combination with awheeled vehicle, having'a' pivotally-mounted axle, of a fender, embracing the opposite wheels of the axle,-

and carried by the vehicle, substantially as I set forth. 7

2. The combination with a wheeled vehicle, having'a' pivotally=mountedaxle, of a fender embracing opposit'ewheels of the axle, detachably connected directly to the opposite extremities of the latter, and movable there-' with, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with an automobile, of

a fender embracing opposite wheels of the vehicle, and having a connection with the opposite ends of the axle, and braces extending from the axle to the body of the'fender, substantially as'sho'wn and-described.

4:. j The combination with an automobile, of

a fender embracing opposite wheels of the'vehiele, and connected to opposite ends of the axle,and braces fixedly connected to the body of the fender, and loosely connected to the, vehicle, to permit of lateral movement of the fender, substantially as shown and described. I 5. The'com'bi'nation with an auto1nobile, 0f a fender embracing opposite side wheels of 643,370 a i f the vehicle, and connected to opposite ends of the axle thereof, braces extending rearwardly from the fender, a yoke-shaped guide connecting the rear ends of the braces, and

having a lateral movement upon the vehicle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with an automobile, of a fender embracing opposite wheels of the vehicle, and connected to opposite ends of the axle thereof, a brace extending forwardly from the axle to the body of the fender, other braces extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the fender, a substantially yokeshaped guide connecting the rear ends of the latter braces, and a stirrup mounted upon the vehicle, and loosely supporting the guide,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7. The combination with an automobile, of a wheel-fender, and a wind guard located above the fender and projecting above the I heads of the occupants of the vehicle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. Thecombination with an automobile, of

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

l OASSIUS E. BELCHER. Witnesses: i

J. L. TURLEY, A. P.HASKINS. 

